Stipendiatenprogramm in Cordova und Kamagayan:

Kooperation mit Eltern und Lehrern
im step-by-step-Stipendienprogramm.
3. Quartalsbericht 2007

The coverage of this report is the 3rd Quarter of 2007 particularly from July 01, 2007, to September 30, 2007. This quarter covers the first grading period and a portion of the second grading period in the Philippine educational system. Our schools have a total of 4 grading periods during which examinations to determine children's performance in class are being administered.
To recall, we have a total of 63 scholars sponsored by step-by-step this school year of 2007-2008.

Project Administration

Staff Training

This quarter, Ramonito joined in the Tutor's Training, a 2-day training program for volunteer tutors as well as Education Committee or Edcom chairpersons of all JPIC covered communities. Discussed during the training include concepts for effective tutoring practice, principles of learning and how to construct a simple lesson plan. We invited a resource speaker for this activity.

Parents' Monthly Meeting

Monthly meeting of parents is done regularly during this quarter. During the meeting parents share concerns of their children's studies, assess the activities of the children under the scholarship program, follow up of requirements needed by JPIC for the release of funds for the school contributions and other school needs of the children. Also, discussed during the meetings are community activities such as the Monthly Faith Celebration and the weekly faith sharing that involve all members of the community. They also talk about and plan on the improvements of their livelihood and the community area.

Ramonito is one of the staff involved in the preparation of the monthly faith celebration. His assignment is the selection of songs and practice with the parents and children of the songs for the celebration. He also assists the other JPIC staff involved in Community Organizing in the faith sharing sessions and the community development activities.

Orientation on Fund Request Forms

An orientation on how to fill up the required forms for the release of funds for the children's school contributions, school projects and other school needs was done during the Parent's Monthly meeting. This is discussed also during every monthly meeting so that parents can thoroughly understand the procedures because some do not get it the first or second time, they have to be constantly taught how to do it.

Ramonito, during this quarter has been actively doing the collecting of the request forms so that he can also process the funds needed by the children. This procedure has been also done during the past few years but of course with minor revisions this year to help improve the system of requesting for funds. This is also to get the participation of the parents in the education of their children because the forms necessitates them to pay the teacher a visit and somehow then be able to get feedback about their child's concerns in school.

Teacher Orientation

Last September, we conducted an orientation about JPIC and the Scholarship Program to all teachers in Cordova Central Elementary School. This is done to make the teachers and school administrator aware of JPIC's vision, mission, goals and its programs and services. For the programs and services, we also devoted half of the time allotted to us to discuss lengthily about the Scholarship Program and the role the teachers play in it.

Field trip to Crocolandia ...

... in September of this year.

At Julian Butterfly Sanctuary...

... scholars received lectures.

Blessing of Cordova Study Centre

by Fr. Tony Salas.

A list of sponsored children was provided to the teachers and they were oriented on the forms that they need to sign as validation of the school contributions and other requirements such as Boy Scout/Girl Scout or Physical Education uniforms. More than 30 teachers including the school principal attended the orientation. The teachers expressed that they now are enlightened on the nature of our school sponsorship program and most of them are now aware of the specific names of sponsored children in their classes.

Project Activities

(1) Tutorials

Tutorials are continuously conducted to the sponsored children in Cordova and Kamagayan. This quarter, in Cordova, Ramonito had organized the conduct of the tutorials per grade level. While in Kamagayan, tutorials are conducted every Sunday morning for all grade levels which starts with a faith sharing and story telling session, then followed by individual tutorials and sometimes inputs on subjects with difficulties such as reading and mathematics.

The following is the schedule of tutorials in Cordova:

Day	Grade Level	no. of scholars
Monday	High school all levels	7
Tuesday	Kinder and Grade 1	10
Wednesday	Grade 2	13
Thursday	Grade 3 and 4	12
Friday	Grade 5 and 6	9
Saturday	Group Activity Day	51 (all Cordova)
Sunday	Kamagayan scholars	12 (all Kamagayan)

(2) Field Trip

Last September, the children in Cordova and Kamagayan had a one-day field trip to Crocolandia and the Julian Butterfly Sanctuary. The Education Committee as well as parents of children below 9 years old have accompanied their children during the field trip. Crocolandia is a mini-crocodile farm and is also home to other animals and Phillippine birds that are nearly extinct such as the Phillippine eagle.

The Julian Butterfly Sanctuary is a private-owned garden developed by a nationally recognized Scientist, Prof. Julian Jumalon for his artworks using butterfly wings and propagation of butterflies in his garden. Children were given lecture about the nature and life of the butterfly and its importance to the environment.

(3) Song Practice

Parents have a song practice after their monthly meeting and this is led by Ramonito. This is done in preparation for the Monthly Faith Celebration or Holy Mass scheduled every third Saturday of the month. Children sometimes join with their parents in the song practice. The activity is a venue where parents can foster better relationship among each other.

(4) Study Circle

In Cordova, starting the 3rd week of September, Ramonito has initiated the study circle after the tutorial session. This is an optional group study session for those who have homework which they have difficulty in answering and for those who have examinations and need assistance in studying their lessons. The study circle starts at about after dinner time usually at 7:00pm and ends at about 8:30 to 9:00pm. There are assigned children who are in the higher levels and some volunteer high school students who will assist those who will join the study circle.

Project Concerns and Action taken

Concern: The community center which serves as meeting place and tutorial place as well as storage area for the tables and chairs for the tutorial sessions has been demolished to give way to a new structure which is a project of the Barangay or Local Government Unit at the barangay level for the housing community in Camolinas. The structure will be used as a day care center.
Action taken: As there is no longer a meeting area and a place where we can do our tutorials and where we can do activities for children, we purchased a movable standing tent made of steel and tarpaulin material. This is now being managed by the officers of the organization but it's priority is the tutorial of children and their activities as well as meeting of parents.

Concern: Children of other levels get restless during tutorial sessions while Ramonito is tutoring the other levels on their homework and school lessons.
Action taken: For this quarter, Ramonito has rescheduled the tutorial sessions and grouped the scholars by levels.

Concern: Parents did not meet the deadline for the requirements needed for the liquidation of the funds given for children's projects for each subject as well as the requirements for the release of funds for school contributions. There is a 20% counterpart that JPIC has required and a signature of the teachers in the school projects as well as school contributions.
Action taken: Parents' attention has been called during the monthly meeting. Those who did not fulfill the requirements will receive the funds later than those who have already submitted their requests on time.

The following are the planned activities for the next quarter, September-December 2007:

1. Continue the tutorial sessions.
2. Initiate activity for the children's month in October.
3. Continue the implementation of study circle in Cordova.

Prepared by: Mimi M. Egot, Education Program Coordinator in consultation with Ramonito del Campo, Scholarship Officer.